Saul Goodman's Close Calls: 10 Heart-pounding Moments in Better Call Saul

Summary

Jimmy McGill's schemes on Better Call Saul often stretch the limits of believability, but his knack for narrowly escaping the authorities is uncanny.

Jimmy's initial act of stealing as a youngster creates a harmful divide between him and Chuck, with Chuck harboring enduring resentment towards Jimmy due to their parents' favoritism towards him.

Several of Jimmy's intricate schemes, such as swindling money, safeguarding a homeowner, and planting incriminating evidence, necessitate a considerable amount of suspension of disbelief in order to achieve success.

Better Call Saul captivates its audience with Jimmy McGill's intricate schemes. Although they are usually well-thought-out, there are moments when they stretch credibility. Throughout the show, Saul engages in various creative cons, including forgery and breaking-and-entering, breaking numerous laws. While things often go awry, Saul possesses a remarkable ability to narrowly evade the authorities unscathed.

Whether he is evading legal consequences or escaping physical harm by criminals, Jimmy McGill is a master of elusiveness. Showrunner Vince Gilligan strives to maintain a relatively realistic universe within Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. However, there are occasions when the narrow escapes Jimmy pulls off are somewhat implausible.

10 Stealing Money From His Parents

During his childhood, Jimmy was caught stealing money from his hardworking father through flashbacks. Although this may seem insignificant compared to the schemes he later executes as an adult, this early act of thievery plays a crucial role in shaping Jimmy's character. Fueled by a desire to avoid being taken advantage of like his vulnerable father, Jimmy heartlessly begins helping himself to the cash stored in his parents' corner store in Cicero.

What allowed young Jimmy to get away with such blatant stealing was his parents' unwavering love for him. Chuck addresses this in his infamous "Chicanery" rant, mocking their devotion by saying, "Not our Jimmy! Couldn't possibly be our precious Jimmy!" This initial offense, although minor, lays the foundation for the destructive divide that forms between Jimmy and Chuck. As a result, Chuck forever despises Jimmy for his parents' greater affection towards him, even in the face of blatant betrayal.

9 Defending Acker's Home By Any Means Necessary

When Mesa Verde Bank & Trust, the prestigious client of Kim Wexler, decides to expand rapidly in the Southwest, an innocent homeowner named Mr. Acker becomes caught in the middle. He finds himself living on Mesa Verde property, with his ancestral lease coming to an end after spending his entire life there. Despite being legally entitled to remove him forcefully, Mesa Verde offers Acker a deal which he refuses.

In a fortunate turn of events, Saul steps in to assist. He devises a series of increasingly absurd lies that effectively delay Mesa Verde from commencing construction. These lies include fake ancient Native American warheads and a mysteriously appearing religious symbol. Although these schemes are clearly false upon closer examination, Mesa Verde fails to see through them, allowing Saul to buy Acker more time. Even CEO Kevin Wachtell acknowledges the lack of authenticity in these tactics.

8 Planting A Battery On Chuck's Person

During Jimmy's disbarment hearing, he faces serious trouble when allegations emerge that he broke into Chuck's house to forge documents, resulting in the loss of Mesa Verde as a client. Despite being in a difficult situation, Jimmy cleverly shifts the focus of the hearing towards Chuck's mental illness, particularly his severe aversion to electricity. To definitively prove that Chuck's condition is fake, Jimmy conspires with Huell, who skillfully plants a charged phone battery on Chuck, publicly exposing his supposed "illness" in front of his peers.

Watching this plan unfold is undeniably one of the series' most remarkable moments, yet it is truly astonishing that Jimmy managed to succeed. Setting aside the question of whether bringing up Chuck's mental health could overshadow Jimmy's potential breaking-and-entering, the legality of Huell's actions in essentially confronting Chuck remains uncertain. Furthermore, according to Chuck's own description of his condition, a battery that does not power any device should not generate a current and thus should have no effect on him.

7 Admitting To Stealing The Kettleman's Money

The Kettleman family, often overlooked in the stellar cast of Better Call Saul, are a bumbling pair of criminals Saul encounters early on. They are accused of embezzling 1.6 million dollars. Initially, Betsy and Craig reject Jimmy's offer to be their lawyer, believing he only represents guilty individuals, despite themselves falling into that category. However, Jimmy later discovers that the Kettlemans have hidden the stolen money in plain sight, staging their own kidnapping and accepting a bribe to stay silent.

The situation takes a turn when the Kettlemans blackmail Jimmy by using the bribe he accepted to take their case, which he now wants no part in. In order to extricate himself from this mess, Jimmy sends Mike to their house to steal the remaining money and return it to the state along with his own bribe, effectively resolving the matter. It's difficult to comprehend why the Kettlemans wouldn't consider reporting Jimmy for trespassing, even if it meant drawing attention to their own wrongdoing.

6 The Theft Of The Bavarian Boy

After his law license is suspended, Jimmy searches for stable employment and attends several mundane job interviews. During an interview for a sales position at a copy shop, Jimmy notices a valuable Hummel figurine in the background. This reminds him of his previous encounter with similar trinkets in season 1, episode 5's "Alpine Shepherd Boy." To secure the figurine, Jimmy persuades a thief named Ira to break into the office and replace the pricey collectible with a less valuable one.

Unfortunately for Ira, the manager of Neff Copiers is experiencing financial difficulties and has taken to sleeping in the office. As a result, Ira becomes trapped under a desk in the same room. He manages to communicate this predicament to Jimmy, who devises a plan to divert the manager's attention by causing a distraction with his car. This provides an opportunity for Ira to escape. Surprisingly, the burglar is able to hide in the room without revealing his presence to the despondent manager. Furthermore, he shows unexpected understanding towards Jimmy after the incident, not cheating him out of his fair share when the figurine sells for more money than anticipated.

5 Orchestrating The Billboard Rescue

Jimmy embarked on one of his most audacious plans, scaling the towering billboard he had purchased. Cunningly employing visuals reminiscent of Howard Hamlin's advertisements, Jimmy's billboard was promptly ordered to be removed. Making the most of this opportunity for free promotion, Jimmy enlisted his reliable film students to film him as he lamented the situation, promptly leaping into action to rescue the conveniently falling worker.

Chuck, being intimately acquainted with his brother, swiftly saw through Jimmy's scheme, positioning himself as the hero in the eyes of the public. Even without insider knowledge, it is difficult to believe that Jimmy's acting prowess was sufficient to deceive the general populace. Moreover, Jimmy and his substitute worker exchanged a brief celebration after successfully carrying out the rescue, potentially captured on camera.

4 Planting The Baggie Of Drugs In The Country Club

In his continuous endeavor to tarnish Howard Hamlin's reputation, Jimmy initiates a campaign to depict Howard as a cocaine user. Jimmy becomes increasingly daring in his attempts to convey this false image, ultimately deciding to audaciously infiltrate the country club. Remarkably, Jimmy manages to sneak into the locker room disguised as a tour participant, strategically placing a small pouch of drugs in Howard's locker for all to witness.

This scheme stands as one of Saul's most absurd actions, boldly entering Howard's club in plain view. His entrance lacks subtlety, provoking the anger of Kevin Wachtell, who coincidentally happens to be present at the club and publicly accuses Saul, leaving no doubt about his alibi. In addition, Saul narrowly avoids detection by Howard himself when he enters the locker room, even engaging in conversation while quickly covering his face with a towel to conceal his identity. This impressive display of stealth pushes the boundaries of believability to their limits.

3 The Colombian Cartel Almost Ends Saul's Story In The Desert

Saul isn't always trying to evade the authorities. However, when he finds himself in a precarious situation delivering Lalo Salamanca's bail money, Saul becomes vulnerable and defenseless in his Suzuki Esteem car when confronted by a group of armed men from the Colombian Cartel. These assailants almost kill him and take the money, but Jimmy's life is spared thanks to the timely intervention of his guardian angel, Mike. Using his sniper rifle, Mike eliminates the gangsters and ensures Saul's survival.

This particular scene, featured in season 5, episode 8 of the series and titled "Bagman," is highly acclaimed. It showcases the closest Saul has ever come to death in either series he appears in. Mike's unexpected arrival can be seen as a convenient plot device, as he shows up just in the nick of time to save Jimmy from the gunmen. However, the believability of Mike's exceptional sniping abilities adds realism to the intense shootout.

2 The Appointed Arbiter's Broken Arm Nearly Cost Kim and Saul Everything

In the dramatic apex of their intricate plot, Jimmy and Kim face a heart-stopping moment in season 6, episode 7 of the Sandpiper case scheme. With the lawsuit still ongoing, Jimmy and Kim devise an elaborate scheme to manipulate the opposing counsel by gaslighting Howard into appearing insane, thereby pressuring them to settle immediately. The success of their plan rests on fabricating fraudulent photographs that supposedly show the neutral arbiter accepting a bribe from Jimmy himself.

By a stroke of luck, Saul happens to encounter the arbiter at a liquor store, unveiling a crucial flaw: the arbiter's arm is encased in a cast, contradicting the falsified photos they had already created. Jimmy immediately contacts Kim, intending to abort the operation, but she adamantly insists that they can salvage their plan. Racing against time, they hurriedly arrange a fresh photoshoot to rectify the discrepancy. This unexpected encounter with the arbiter alerts Jimmy to a potential exposure, putting their entire scheme at risk of being uncovered by Howard, yet without any impact on the Sandpiper case itself.

1 Jimmy Steals Howard's Car

The Sandpiper con involved a series of smaller scams designed to systematically destroy Howard Hamlin's reputation, culminating in the release of the arbiter photos. Among Jimmy's attempts to tarnish Howard's image, his most audacious scheme was impersonating Howard during a therapy session and stealing his distinctive car. Jimmy then drove recklessly in front of H&M partner Cliff before returning the car before the end of Howard's session.

This con was a remarkable feat, involving multiple intricate steps such as quickly copying Howard's key and recruiting a prostitute to be seen exiting the stolen vehicle. The element of time added an extra layer of tension, with Jimmy returning to the therapist's office only to discover another car parked in Howard's spot. Jimmy had to summon all his strength to remove a sign from the ground and replant it in front of the car, making it the most blatant instance in Better Call Saul where Jimmy should not have gotten away with his actions.